Mortician{40 s table

ABSTRACT

A table, suitable for use by morticians, is disclosed which is provided with horizontally disposed upstanding body support members which extend transversely of the table. The support members are selectively adjustable longitudinally of the table whereby a corpse being embalmed can be properly supported during the procedure.

United States Patent 91 Coles [451 Mar. 26, 1974 MORTICIAN'S TABLE [76] Inventor: Leander M. Coles, 1923 Lawrence St., NE, Washington, DC 20018 [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 195,966

[52] 11.8. C1. 269/32 B, 27/13, 27/21, 128/70, 128/71, 269/322 [51] Int. Cl A61g 13/00 [58] Field of Search 269/322, 328; 27/13, 21; 128/70, 71

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 620,318 2/1899 Havnar 128/71 1,239,146 9/1917 Wantz 1 269/322 X 1,437,568 12/1922 Taplin 128/70 1,616,065 2/1927 Rosenquist..... 128/70 X 1,632,160 6/1927 Barnes 27/13 1,960,392 5/1934 Ormsbee 27/21 2,895,775 7/1959 McDonald et a1. 269/328 UX 3,218,067 11/1965 Beverly 128/70 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,100,089 3/1955 France 269/322 Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Joseph T. Zatarga Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Burt0n Sicheiner [5 7] ABSTRACT A table, suitable for use by morticians, is disclosed which is provided with horizontally disposed upstanding body support members which extend transversely of the table. The support members are selectively adjustable longitudinally of the table whereby a corpse being embalmed can be properly supported during the procedure.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MEhHEIJmzs 19 INVENTOR LEANDER M CQ S AGENT MORTICIAN'S TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of art to which the invention pertains com-. prises the morticians art, and more specifically, concerns an embalming table provided with adjustable body portion support members, by the selective adjustment of which the mortician can maintain the body portions of a corpse head, shoulders, buttocks, and legs in particular in a desired attitude during embalming.

The prior art means utilized by morticians for supporting a corpse on a table in proper position for embalming, and other attendant procedures related to preparing the corpse for burial, have comprised means as diverse as telescopically adjustable support racks, multiple peaked blocks, and miscellaneous objects. Such prior art means oftentimes can be utilized to initially support a corpse in a suitable position on a morticians embalming table, but during the procedure they shift relative to the table and corpse since they generally are merely adjuncts to the tables and not secured thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide an embalming table, or the like, having body portion supporting members carried by the table by a means whereby the support members are adjustably secured in a preselected position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for adapting otherwise conventional embalming tables with adjustably secured body portion supporting members.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an embalming table having body portion supporting members adjustable therealong and wherein the supporting members are gravity secured in the preselected position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an embalming table having body portion supporting members adjustable longitudinally therealong by a track means whereby adjustment of the supporting members can be effected quickly and easily without the necessity for utilizing any tools to do so.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an embalming table having the aforedescribed adjustable body portion supporting members including coacting head rest means carried thereby.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following more detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood from a consideration of the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embalming table, with a corpse thereon in phantom, and incorporating an exemplary embodiment of the body portion support means of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a slightly enlarged side elevational view of the exemplary embalming table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged transverse vertical crosssectional view of the table of FIGS. 1 and 2, as taken substantially along the plane of the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal verti cal cross-sectional .view taken substantially along the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of a trackway means for adjustably supporting the body portion supporting members of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and FIGS. 1-4 in particular, it will be seen that the present invention is illustrated in conjunction with an embalming table indicated generally at 10. The basic embalming table 10 illustrated is merely exemplary of tables which can be provided with the body portion supporting means 12 comprising the present invention. The exemplary morticians table 10 comprises a generally rectangular support member having a generally planar upper support surface 14. As a practical matter the upper surface 14 of the table 10 is generally crowned, i.e., pitches off slightly from a centrally disposed longitudinaly axis whereby liquid present on the upper surface 14 of the table 10 flows by gravity into a peripherial trough 16. Although not shown, the trough 16 is generally connected to a waste drain. However, if during the procedure of embalming, for example, a corpse as indicated in phantom lines generally at 18, were to rest directly upon the upper planar surface 14 of the table, body fluids, excess embalming fluids, cleansing fluids would not necessarily be able to drain from the table by means of the trough 16. In addition, if the coprse 18 were to rest directly upon the upper surface 14 of the table 10, subsequent to the completion of the actual embalming procedure, further preparation of the corpse for burial, i.e., dressing, application of cosmetics, positioning of the limbs in a natural position, etc. could not be readily effected.

Thus, turning now in greater detail to the body portion supporting means 12 it will be seen that with respect to the exemplary table 10 illustrated, there are provided with a plurality of transversely extending generally horizontally disposed body portion supporting members 20. Although merely exemplary, the table 10 is also provided an integral foot support 22. It will be understood that the feet of the corpse could be supported by a support member analogous to the support members 20. As seen best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the body portion supporting members 20 are configured so as to generally be spaced upwardly from the upper surface 14 whereby suitable placement thereof relative to the head, shoulders, buttocks, calves, etc. of the corpse maintain the corpse generally spaced from the upper surface of the table. In addition co-acting with the support member 20 positioned beneath the head of the corpse, is a head rest means indicated generally at 24. It will be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 3 that the head rest means 24 is configured so as to have a plurality of transverse trough-like areas, indicated at 26, 28, 30, and 32, for example, whereby the coaction of these several trough-like areas, can be selectively positioned upon the particular support member 20, enables selectively determining the effective height of the upwardly disposed surface of the head rest means from the support member 20. Thus, while the trough 26 is spaced upwardly from the associated member 20 a given distance, by inverting the head rest means 24 the trough 30 would be upwardly disposed, but at a height differing from that. of trough 26. Although not specifically shown it will be understood that still further effective head rest support heights can be established by, for example, placement of the trough 28 upon the upper sufface of body portion supporting member 20. Thus, it will be appreciated that an advantageous co-action exists between the head rest means 24 and the body portion support member 20 of thepresent invention.

Turning now in still greater detail to the body portion supporting means 12 of the present invention it will be appreciated that placement of the body portion support members 20 will be dictated by the corpulence, height, etc., of the corpse undergoing embalming, or the like. Accordingly a salient aspect of the present invention resides in providing means for selectively and adjustably positioning the supporting members 20 longitudinally along the table 10. In this regard as best seen from a simultaneous consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 is provided with a trackway means indicated generally at 34. As seen best in FIG. 4 the means 34 includes an undulating tracking surface 36 upon which is trackingly engaged roller members 38, or the like, which in the exemplary embodiment illustrated herein are rotatably journaled to the support members 20 by stub shafts 40 secured to or integral the members 20. While rollers 38 are illustrated it will be appreciated that they are not essential to the provision of an adjustable body portion supporting means in accordance with the present invention. As seen in FIG. 3 the tracking surfaces are provided downwardly and in wardly of the opposed longitudinally extending side edge portions of the table 10. Accordingly in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4 the support members 20 have a generally C-shaped configuration, in side elevation, so as to permit movement of the respective members along the trackway surface 36, which may extend along substantially the entire length of the table 10. From a consideration of FIG. 3 it will be understood that while clearance of the U-shaped portion 21 is sufficient to allow selective movement of the members 20 along the trackway 36 the width of the members 20 is such that its coaction with the minimal clearance between the portion 21 and the underedge 23 of the table stabilizes the members 20 in the generally upright position illustrated. It will be understood that other means for stabilizing the members 20 in the upright position may be utilized without departing from the invention, as long as the members are trackingly adjustable longitudinally along the table for temporary securement at spaced points along the table.

As seen from a consideration of FIG. 5 the trackway portion of the trackway means need not be formed integral with an embalming table, but may comprise a track indicated generally at 134 having an undulating tracking surface 136, analagous to to the tracking surface 36 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4, and wherein, for example the trackway 134 may be secured by bolts or the like, not shown, by means of suitable fasteners, also not shown, passing through suitable apertures 138. In conjunction with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 it will be appreciated that the trackway 134 illustrated may be secured to otherwise conventional embalming tables to adapt the same to accept selectively positionable body supporting members generally analagous to the support members 20.

From a consideration of the foregoing detailed description taken together with the exemplary embodiments and co-acting head rest portion thereof it will be appreciated that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the invention disclosed herein.

I claim:

1. In combination with an embalming table having a generally planar upper surface, downwardly projecting edges, and a generally planar lower surface, a peripheral trough in said upper surface, a plurality of generally transversely extending generally horizontally disposed body portion supporting members generally spaced upwardly from the upper surface of the table and extending downwardly along said edges and inwardly of said lower surface, roller trackway engaging members carried by said inwardly extending portions of said body portion supporting members, and trackway means carried by said table in a slot communication with said lower surface of said table and coacting with said trackway engaging members, said trackway means comprising an undulating tracking surface integral with said table for selectively and adjustably positioning said supporting members longitudinally of the upper surface of the table.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a head rest removably secured upon at least an upper surface of one of said body portion supporting members and extending generally upwardly therefrom.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said head rest is provided with means for removably securing said head rest to said body portion supporting members and for positioning said head rest at a plurality of effective heights relative to said generally planar upper surface of said table. 

1. In combination with an embalming table having a generally planar upper surface, downwardly projecting edges, and a generally planar lower surface, a peripheral trough in said upper surface, a plurality of generally transversely extending generally horizontally disposed body portion supporting members generally spaced upwardly from the upper surface of the table and extending downwardly along said edges and inwardly of said lower surface, roller trackway engaging members carried by said inwardly extending portions of said body portion supporting members, and trackway means carried by said table in a slot communication with said lower surface of said table and coacting with said trackwaY engaging members, said trackway means comprising an undulating tracking surface integral with said table for selectively and adjustably positioning said supporting members longitudinally of the upper surface of the table.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including a head rest removably secured upon at least an upper surface of one of said body portion supporting members and extending generally upwardly therefrom.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said head rest is provided with means for removably securing said head rest to said body portion supporting members and for positioning said head rest at a plurality of effective heights relative to said generally planar upper surface of said table. 